Electrolytic cell for separating constituents of a mixture of metal or an alloy.



H. LAGROIX.

ELEGTEOLYTIG CELL FOE SBPARATING GONSTITUBNTS OF A MIXTURE 0F METAL 0B.AN ALLOY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 190B.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Z w I mtuizuu at? T .other compartment, containin UNITED STATES PATEN TOFFICE.

HENRY LAGROIX, F GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGIIOR TO USINE GENEVOISE DEDEGR08-.

SISSAGE DOR, OF GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.

IIJBGTROLYTIG CELL, IOR

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. .18,

application filed Poly 2, 1908. Serial No. 441,709.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, HENBY- LAonorx, a citizen of the Republic ofSwitzerland, residing at Usine (jenevoise de Degrossissage d'Ur, Geneva,Switzerland, engineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Electrolytic Cells for Separating the Constituents of a Mixture ofMetal or an Alloy, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electrolytic cell applicable for separating[ruin a mixture of metals or an alloy, used as an anode, one or more ofits constituents, either for the purpose of purifying the alley or forwinning the said constituents. The cell is so constructed that thematerial which drops from the anode or anodes is collected separatelyfrom that which drops from the cathode or cathodes and for this pur oseone of the electrodes or sets of electro es is surrounded by a diaphragmthe lower end of which 0 ens into a chamber separate from the rest 0 thebody of the cell.

One form of cell according to the inventionis shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which- Figure l is a vertical section on line 0, c, g,hot-Fig. 3; Fig. 2 is one half of a horizontal section on line o--a ofFig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line bb of Fig. 1.

The cell comprises two compartments, one of which, contaimn the cathodes1, is bounded by the wa s of the cellular diaphragm d and the walls 11.,o and the inclined ottom f of the cell; at the bottom this compartmentterminates in a funnel-she ed portion 7c connected at t with a pipe. hethe anodes 2, consists of the space within t re diaphra m d and thelower chamber 1' into which t e diaphrag'rns extend and the inclinedbottom oi which forms a funnel-shapedpart k con nected with a pi e 1!".An upward extension m.of this charm er serves as an overflow w. Suitablepacking around the lower parts of the diaphragms separates the twochambers.

The electrolyte s introduced through the channel 1:, so t at it hastoenter the lower part of the cathode compartment and to rise alon theoath e; in order to flow throu h openings 0 in diaphragm 12 into the topof t 1e anodecornpartment, name! the top art of the cellular diaphragms.he liquid flows downward in the latter, leaving the surfaces of theanodes, and thus passes through the passage {2 into the chamber 1',thence to, ascend t ie extension m to flow away at :6. After filtration,if necessary the electroly e, is then returned to the cell at n, and soon. The heavier particles which the electrolysis detaches from thecathodes fall on to the. inclined bottom f and collect in the pocket Itwhence they may be withdrawn through the pipe at t. The heavierparticles that are detached by the electrolysis from the anodes fallthrough the passages pinto the chamber '1', whence they separate byravit from the electrolyte, which ascends t roug m; these particles maybe withdrawn through the pipe at Owing to the speed of the liquid in theextension m the lighter articles detached from the anodes remain insuspension and are carried away, they may be caught by a lilterfollowing the overflow.

T he particles collected in the parts k and k may be removed in anysuitable manner adapted for removing them at any moment withoutinterrupting the circulation of the liquid or the operation of the aparatus, and without varying the level'of the 'quid in the cell oragitating the liquid.

By constantly feeding the cell at n there is attained a com ulsorycirculation of'the liquid along the e ectrodes, thus maintaining aregular concentration and obtaining a uniform deposit and attackrespectively over their whole surface.

In the particular-form illustrated there are only two diaphragms it isevident, however, that there may be any number: the cathodes may also beplaced within diaphragnrs.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and the best means Iknow of earring the same into practical effect,

c aim 1. An electrolytic cell comprising an outer com artment containingan electrode and prov' ed with a pocket adapted to receive materialsliberated from the said elec-' trode, a cellular diaphragm forming asecond compartment to contain a secondelectrode,

a chamber separated from the rest of the. body of the celland adapted toreceive the lower part of the diaphragm and materials liberated from thesaid second electrode, and means permitting the circulation of anelectrolyte along the electrodes from the lower part of one of thecompartments into the upper part of the other compartment, substantiallyas described. 3 2. An electrolytic cell comprising an outer compartmentcontaining an electrode and having a bottom sloping downwardly to l forma funnel-shaped pocket adapted to receive separately materials liberatedfrom the said electrode, a cellular diaphragm forming, a secondcoinpartn'ient to contain a second electrode, anda chamber se iaratedfrom the rest of the body of the cc] and adapted to receive the lowerpart of the diaphragm and having .a bottom sloping downwardly to form afunnel-shaped pocket adapted to ,receive separately the materialsliberated from the said electrode, substantially as described. 3. Anelectrolytic cell comprising an outer compartment containing anelectrode and having a bottom sloping downwardly to form a funnel-shapedpocket adapted to receive separately materials liberatedfrom the saidelectrode, a cellular diaphragm formin a second compartment to contain asecond electrode, and a chamber separated from the rest of the body ofthe cell and adapted to receive the lower part of the diaphragm andhaving a bottom sloping downwardly to form a funnel-shaped pocketadapted to re ceive separately the materials liberated from the saidsecondelectrode; with means ermitting the circulation of an electro ytealong the electrodes from the lower part of one of the compartmentsinto'the u pp er part of the other compartment, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY LACRO IX.

VVitnessesz l v LOUIS. H. Momma, AUGUSTE ,E. BONNA.

